Cosh Named Terps' Defensive Coordinator
12/15/2005 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 15, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland head football coach Ralph Friedgen has named Chris Cosh as the Terrapins' defensive coordinator. Cosh replaces Gary Blackney in the position after Blackney retired following the final game of his fifth season in the post. Cosh is the first new hire at either coordinator spot since Friedgen took the head coaching job in 2001.
"Chris Cosh is a very good fit for us," said Friedgen. "I looked into a lot of different aspects of the job, from experience to recruiting to success as a defensive coordinator. Everyone I spoke with was very positive in their response about him as a football coach, a recruiter and a hard-working, hard-nosed football coach. He is from this area, is familiar with Maryland and we are very excited to have him as a part of our staff."
Cosh comes to College Park after serving the last two years as linebackers coach at Kansas State, a position he held prior to the retirement of K-State legend Bill Snyder at the end of this season. Cosh brings both experience -- he has served as a defensive coordinator at five different schools -- and regional familiarity to the post. He is a native of Washington, D.C., was linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator for the Terps in 1997, and is a graduate and former letterwinner at Virginia Tech.
"Obviously, I am excited because I am a Marylander," said Cosh. "I came up from the Boys Club ranks and through the high school system in Maryland and my family is here. It is impressive what Coach Friedgen has been able to do. I am hoping to be able to help take it to a higher level there, and I look forward to being a part of the family at the University of Maryland."
A linebackers coach most of his career, Cosh will also coach inside linebackers while Tim Banks -- a former cornerback who coached the secondary at three of his last four stops -- will take over as defensive backs coach.
